Aliens Pulse Rifle:
The "10-Hole Hero"
A DETAILED ANALYSIS BY XHIWAR
Introduction
fig. 1: Famous screenshot of Hicks showing the 10-Hole Pulse Rifle to Ripley.
None of the Pulse Rifles used in Aliens are exactly alike. This can be seen especially well on the Aliens Pulse Rifle Information & Resource Page by Willie Goldman, which gives detailed information about all known screen-used Pulse Rifles.
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However, the so-called "10-Hole Hero" Pulse Rifle (or "prototype", or "Cameron" Pulse Rifle) deviates in crucial details from the rest of the Hero Pulse Rifles. It is generally accepted that this was the prototype Pulse Rifle on which the rest of the Hero Pulse Rifles are based and is therefore slightly more detailed. Several details were most likely omitted to save manufacturing costs for the other Hero Pulse Rifles.​
It is also the Pulse Rifle that is seen in one of the most iconic scenes of the movie "Aliens", where Corporal Hicks explains the function of the Pulse Rifle to Ellen Ripley, showing us a few very close up scenes of the Rifle (see fig. 1). It is also the Rifle shown in the hands of Private Frost when preparing the Pulse Rifles on the USS Sulaco, racking the grenade launcher of the 10-Hole Hero Pulse Rifle (see fig. 2).
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The Rifle also seems to be less weathered (i.e. in more "pristine" condition) than the rest of the Hero Pulse Rifles. For these reasons, many people see it as a somewhat "idealized" version of what the Pulse Rifle is meant to be, even though it is harder to recreate than the rest of the "Hero Pulse Rifles".
fig. 2: Frost preparing the 10-Hole Pulse Rifle for the mission.
The Differences
This site is designed to show the differences differences of the 10-Hole Hero Pulse Rifle from its Hero brothers. Some of those are well known (or in fact he basis for the name), others are lesser known or recently discovered by me and "Bug Stomper". To best illustrate the differences, I am reviewing the differences part by part:
The Shoulder Stock differs only slightly, but still is unique to the 10-hole Hero or "prototype" Pulse Rifle.
The cuts in the SPAS cage are very distinctive on the 10-hole Hero, although barely noticeable on screen.
One of the more mysterious details is the (Thompson) grip of the 10-Hole Hero Pulse Rifle.
Even the Thompson M1A1 Rifle does have some unique elements on the 10-Hole Hero Pulse Rifle.
Ammo Counter
Learn not only how the Ammo Counter was unique, but how you can build one.
Interesting Things
Here are some things you might be interested in:
Find any more unique details?
If you find any info on this page to be wrong or find any more unique details of the 10-Hole Hero Pulse Rifle, feel free to contact me and I'll add your discovery to the page as soon as possible!
For more information on Pulse Rifles, visit the Aliens Legacy Forum.
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Also, visit the Aliens Pulse Rifle Information & Resource Page by Willie Goldman (alienscollection.com) to learn about all the different Hero Pulse Rifles.